4-Wichita Advancement Board members
Meet the 4-Wichita Advancement Board Leadership, Committee Chairs and Members
Sue Watson, chair
Sue Watson received a bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education in 1975 from the University of Kansas. She served on the KU Alumni Association National Board from 2003-2011, and as co-chair of Far Above: The Campaign for Kansas, the capital campaign for the University of Kansas. Sue serves on the Wichita Art Museum Board of Trustees, the Junior League of Wichita, Inc. (and was awarded Sustainer of the Year Award in 2007), the Andover Advantage Association and Catholic Charities Harbor House. Sue has also served as co-chair of the Wichita Art Museum’s 75th Anniversary Gala, served on the Arts Partners Board and chaired the first Tunes on the Tarmac, Music Theatre Board of Directors and was performers’ card promotion co-chair. She served on the board of Sedgwick County Zoo and chaired the Zoobilee fundraiser, was co-chair of a successful Andover Middle School Bond Issue and was co-founder and chair of the first Jayhawk Roundup.
Jill Docking, MBA, immediate past chair
Jill Docking, MBA has worked in the financial services industry since 1988 and is a long-time resident of Wichita. In 1999, she founded the Financial Fitness Foundation, a not-for-profit focused on teaching financial literacy in the K-12 school system. Jill serves on the board of the Sedgwick County Historical Society, the Mid-Kansas Simulation Center and the Dana Farber Advisory Board. In 2007, Jill was appointed to the Kansas Board of Regents by then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius and served as chair of the regents. She has also served on the Board of Trustees of Newman University and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Sedgwick County. In 1993, Jill became the first woman to receive the gubernatorial appointment as the commanding general of the Kansas Cavalry. Jill was a Wichita Business Journal Women in Business honoree in 2004, and she was recognized as a WBJ Newsmaker in 2010 for her work on the Board of Regents. Jill earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from KU in 1978 and a Master of Business Administration in 1983. Jill has two children, Brian and Margery.
Noreen Carrocci, Ph.D., chair-elect
Noreen M. Carrocci, Ph.D., was president of Newman University in Wichita, Kansas, from July 2007, until she retired in December 2019. During her tenure, Newman University achieved record enrollment, retention and graduate rates. A successful campaign led to renovations for nursing and allied health program facilities, and the construction of the Bishop Gerber Science Center in 2017. In addition to her duties as president, Noreen has been very active in the Wichita community. She chaired the Via Christi Hospitals-Wichita Board of Directors from 2013-2016. Noreen also served on the boards of the Wichita Community Foundation, Wichita Grand Opera, Wichita Rotary Charitable Fund, KU School of Medicine-Wichita 4-Wichita Advancement Board and Wichita Chamber of Commerce (ex-officio). Through the Greater Wichita Partnership, she served as co-chair of the Business-Education Alliance from 2015-2019. She started a new term on the 4-Wichita Advancement Board in 2021.
Prior to her tenure at Newman University, Noreen served as provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of communication from 1998 until 2007 at Spring Hill College (Mobile, Alabama). Noreen was dean of the Undergraduate College at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) from 1994 to 1998, and faculty member, department chair and associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Saint Louis University from 1979 to 1994. She earned her A.B. degree (1975) at Miami University (Ohio) in speech communication and psychology, and her M.A. (1977) and Ph.D. (1979) degrees at the University of Kansas in speech communication and human relations.
Brian Pate, M.D., secretary
Brian Pate, M.D. grew up in Roeland Park, Kansas, and has wanted to be a doctor ever since he was a little kid. While in high school, Brian met his wife, Christy, and together they have three sons: Sam, Nick and Matt. Brian obtained his Bachelor of Science in biology from Creighton University in 1991, and his doctorate of medicine from KU School of Medicine in 1995. He completed his pediatrics residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital in 1998. In 2015, Brian became chair and associate professor for the Department of Pediatrics at KU School of Medicine-Wichita. Previously, he served as division director, Pediatric Hospital Medicine, and vice chair for inpatient services at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Brian was recently named to the Leadership Kansas Class of 2018. He is a fellow of the Society of Hospital Medicine and the American Academy of Pediatrics. His professional interests include hospital medicine, patient safety, continuous process improvement and health care administration. When Brian is not working, he loves being with his family most. If not with them, he can be found fishing, tying fly fishing lines, drawing/painting fishing and outdoor scenes, and reading.
Board Development Committee
Sharol Rasberry, chair
It shall be the duty of the Board Development Committee (1) to recommend to the 4-Wichita Advancement Board the names of prospective candidates for membership on the 4-Wichita Advancement Board, (2) to make such examination of persons suggested by the membership of the 4-Wichita Advancement Board, or otherwise as may be necessary in order to make recommendations, and (3) in cooperation with the Oversight Committee, to make nominations with respect to new officers and new members of the Executive Committee.
Community Affairs Committee
Jeff Van Sickle, chair
It shall be the duty of the Community Affairs Committee to serve as ambassadors to the community on behalf of KU School of Medicine-Wichita and increase community awareness of its programs, successes and priorities. The Community Affairs Committee will assist in the development, implementation and expansion of various programs designed to reach the public, former and potential patients, physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, corporate leaders, elected officials, donors, and potential donors. To accomplish this charge, the Community Affairs Committee may host events, special briefings, receptions or other local or regional events as appropriate.
Executive Committee
Sue Watson, chair
The Executive Committee, composed of the officers of the 4-Wichita Advancement Board, the chairs of the standing committees, the executive director of the Medical Society of Sedgwick County and one-to-four additional member(s) of the 4-Wichita Advancement Board, who shall be elected by the 4-Wichita Advancement Board upon nomination by the Board Development Committee and with the advice and consent of the Oversight Committee. The members thereof shall serve on the Executive Committee by virtue of their office or until their successors are elected and qualified.
Fund Development Committee
Jeff Kennedy, chair
It shall be the duty of the Fund Development Committee to assist the staff in identifying, cultivating, and soliciting individuals, corporations, and foundations for private gifts that will help support the mission of KU School of Medicine-Wichita. The Fund Development Committee shall work to involve all members of the 4-Wichita Advancement Board, as necessary and appropriate, in supporting the philanthropic goals of KU School of Medicine-Wichita.
Government Affairs Committee
Kevin Mullen, chair
It shall be the duty of the Governmental Affairs Committee to assist KU School of Medicine-Wichita at the local, state, and federal level, as appropriate, in their respective efforts to increase governmental awareness, understanding and involvement in the needs and programs of KUSM-W. The Governmental Affairs Committee may also, as appropriate, assist in efforts to effect desirable changes in laws, rules and regulations affecting KU School of Medicine-Wichita. The Committee will accomplish this through member communication and advocacy with key governmental contacts and by working to build lasting relationships with governmental officials and other community leaders.
Effective Jan. 1, 2022, to Dec. 31, 2022
- Sue Watson, chair
- Noreen Carrocci, Ph.D., chair-elect
- Brian Pate, M.D., secretary
- Alex Ammar, M.D.
- Vera Bothner
- Nick Brown, M.D.
- Phillip Brownlee
- Charles Coffey, M.D.
- Jerry Cohlmia, M.D.
- Kathie Dakhil
- Jill Docking, MBA
- Tracy Farrell
- Allen Fee
- Carolyn Gaughan
- Austin Gillard
- Bonnie Bing Honeyman
- Rick Kellerman, M.D.
- Jeff Kennedy
- Diane Klingman, M.D.
- Carol Linnens
- Doug Milfeld, M.D.
- Kevin Mullen
- David Murfin
- Brooke Nesmith, M.D.
- Shelly Prichard
- Sharol Rasberry
- Donna Shank
- Jennifer Szambecki
- Jeff Van Sickle
- Sheryl Wohlford
Honorary Members
- Amy Bragg Carey, Ph.D.
- David Dennis
- Gregory Hand, Ph.D., MPH, MS
- Kathleen Jagger, Ph.D., MPH
- Kim Krull, Ph.D.
- Kevin Strecker
- William Voloch
- Brandon Whipple, Ph.D.
Ex-Officio Members
- Chancellor Douglas A. Girod, M.D.
- Executive Vice Chancellor Robert D. Simari, M.D.
- Executive Dean Akinlolu Ojo, M.D., Ph.D., MBA
- Dean Garold Minns, M.D.
- Dale Seuferling